Ledyard settling in atop Demopolis Public Library

Elizabeth Ledyard hit the floor running in her new post as librarian of the Demopolis Public Library, and she doesn’t show any indication of slowing down soon.

“I love to jump in with both feet,” she joked.

On the job for less than a week, her schedule has been packed with meetings, getting to know the staff and volunteers and learning about the city. Ledyard already has plans for more activities and events to draw people into the facility.

“I want a lot of traffic in this library,” she said.

Ledyard comes to Demopolis after serving at the Reid State Technical College satellite campus in Atmore. She saw the position as an opportunity to be closer to her mother and help restore the family home in Greensboro.

Her first impressions of the city have been positive.

“I really like what I’ve seen in Demopolis,” Ledyard said. “I think I have found a place.”

She quickly settled into her new office, thanks to her staff. “I feel like I’ve been here for months. They’ve helped me feel comfortable and welcomed.”

The library already has several events in place for its patrons, and Ledyard is expecting more activities to be added to the list. The next Lunch and Learn on Sept. 25 features Julie Hedgepeth Williams speaking on her book, Three Not-So-Ordinary Joes: A Plantation Newspaperman, a Printer’s Devil, an English Wit, and the Founding of Southern Literature.

Jim Phillips returns to Demopolis Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., this time to give a talk on “Ghosts and Treasures of Antebellum Alabama.”

In the meantime, Ledyard plans to work on updating the library’s web page where it will be mobile-devise friendly. Long range plans are to bring “every newspaper anyone would ever want” to the library digitally and free of charge just by logging on to the Internet while in the library.

The new librarian already is getting into the spirit of the community by looking ahead to events to celebrate Alabama’s Bicentennial, the Iron Bowl, Christmas on the River, Halloween, Rooster Day and the Under-14 Babe Ruth National Championship next August.

The whole library staff will be sporting special T-shirts during the holidays as well.

While her previous job catered to college students, Ledyard is looking forward to working with a more diverse population, especially its youngest members.

“I’m very excited about the children’s floor,” she said, praising children’s librarian Kathy Owings and her assistant Sandy Dickie, who also handles genealogy and library loans. The full-time staff is rounded out with Connie Lawson who heads circulation. In addition, the staff has four essential part-time staffers.

As she learns more about Demopolis, Ledyard will add her personal touches to the job. She hopes her schedule will relax enough so that she can join local organizations and get involved in community events.

“We’re going to learn and have fun.”

The Demopolis Public Library will hold a meet-and-greet for Ledyard Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.